The signs and symptoms of lung cancer may take years to appear and are often confused with symptoms of less serious conditions. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease reaches an advanced stage.

• Smoker’s cough that persists or becomes intense
• Non-smoker’s cough that persists for more than two weeks
• Persistent chest, shoulder or back pain unrelated to pain from coughing
• Change in color of sputum
• Increase in volume of sputum
• Blood in sputum
• Wheezing
• Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Hoarseness
• Stridor (a harsh sound with each breath)
  

• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Headache, bone pain, aching joints
• Bone fractures not related to accidental injury
• Neurological symptoms (e.g., unsteady gait and/or episodic memory loss)
• Neck and facial swelling
• Unexplained weight loss
  

There also may be signs and symptoms caused by the spread of lung cancer to other parts of the body. Depending on which organs are affected, these can include headaches, general weakness, pain, bone fractures, bleeding or blood clots. Anyone experiencing these signs or symptoms should consult a physician immediately.